♪♪
Dustin: ALL RIGHT. SO, WHAT'S THE DEAL?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO JUST STAND BY.
WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THE BUGS OUT OF THIS THING.
Narrator: DEEP IN A REMOTE ALASKAN CANYON,
"GOLD RUSH" VETERANS FRED HURT
AND HIS SON, DUSTIN --
THE DAKOTA BOYS -- ARE BACK...
LET'S DO IT. ...SEARCHING FOR GOLD.
BUT THIS TIME, THEIR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE.
Dustin: JUST HOLD ON TO ME.
AAH!
WHOA!
PULL. PULL. PULL. PULL. PULL.
MAN, I LOVE YOU, MAN. COME ON. WHY YOU GOT TO HAVE A PROBLEM?
LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NO MORE OF THAT [BLEEP] DUSTIN.
Man: WE'RE THE ONLY REDNECKS CRAZY ENOUGH TO DO THIS [BLEEP]
-OH! -DUSTIN!
Fred: WE'RE JUST KIND OF IN THAT ZONE
BETWEEN CRAZY AND INSANE.
IF YOU'RE SCARED OF DYING, NEVER GONNA LIVE.
OH, NO, NO, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! [BLEEP]
OH [BLEEP]
HE'S GOT NO AIR. FRED!
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
BOY, IS IT GOOD TO GET...AIR.
OH [BLEEP] THE BRIDGE IS GONNA GO!
GET OUT! GET OUT!
THIS IS GOLD MINING TO THE EXTREME.
WHOO! [ MEN SHOUT INDISTINCTLY ]
WE FOUND GOLD!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Dustin: WHOO!
ALL WE NEED IS ONE LITTLE POCKET OF GOLD.
THINK ABOUT IT -- ONE POCKET OF GOLD.
I WANT TO GET ENOUGH GOLD, IT'LL JUST MOUND UP LIKE THAT.
AH, THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT.
WE GOT EVERYTHING PRETTY WELL SET UP.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS WALK INTO IT AND START MINING.
THIS IS A GENUINE TREASURE HUNT.
Narrator: FRED HURT HAS BEEN HUNTING FOR GOLD HERE
FOR ALMOST A DECADE,
FIRST DOWN THE VALLEY AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
WHERE HE MINED WITH TODD HOFFMAN.
HEY, GUYS, UH, THIS IS A NEW MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.
UH, WELCOME ABOARD.
WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYBODY?
Narrator: THE NEXT YEAR...
OH! ...FRED TOOK OVER TODD'S MINE
AND BROUGHT IN HIS GREENHORN SON, DUSTIN.
-I'M DOING GOOD. -HUH?
HOLY [BLEEP] [ LAUGHTER ]
SO, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
Man: HE'S DEFINITELY GOT THE GOLD FEVER.
WE GOT HIM HOOKED.
WHOO! WE DIGGING NOW.
Narrator: FOR 3 YEARS, THEY MINED A MASSIVE PIT
USING CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES...
THIS IS IT. THIS IS WHERE I'M GONNA GET MY NUGGET.
...AND TOOK HOME OVER 3/4 MILLION IN GOLD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I THINK TONIGHT IS A THREE-BEER NIGHT.
GOOD JOB, FRED.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: THEN, WHEN THE PIT BECAME TOO DANGEROUS...
...FRED AND DUSTIN HEADED UPRIVER
TOWARDS THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT McKINLEY CREEK.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF BIG-TIME PAYOFF.
THEY'VE SPENT THE LAST 2 YEARS
IN THE WILD PLUNGE POOLS OF McKINLEY CREEK,
SEARCHING FOR THE ULTIMATE JACKPOT,
DIVING IN WHITE WATER WITH A SUCTION DREDGE.
NOW, THE DAKOTA BOYS RETURN
FOR A NEW SEASON AT McKINLEY CREEK...
THERE IT IS, FRED. HOT DAMN.
THAT IS THE CREEK, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
...ONE OF THE DEADLIEST GOLD MINING LOCATIONS IN THE WORLD.
Fred: WHEW! LOOK AT THAT WATER COMING OVER THAT FALLS.
IT'S KICKING BUTT.
YEAH. THAT'S A LOT OF SNOWMELT.
IT'S SUPER DANGEROUS, RIGHT NOW, DOWN THERE.
AND WE'RE GETTING IN IT. ARE WE CRAZY OR WHAT?
A POCKET OF GOLD ON THIS CREEK
COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 4 MILLION BUCKS.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA MAKE YOU A WEALTHY MAN.
AH, I CAN'T WAIT.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT.
5,000 FEET UP, HIGH IN THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS,
A SERIES OF GLACIERS ERODED GOLD
FROM THE MOTHER LODE OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS.
THEIR MELTWATER CARRIED IT DOWN THE RUGGED CREEKS,
CREATING DEPOSITS OF GOLD
WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE LOWER STRETCHES OF THE CREEK ARE ALL BUT MINED OUT.
BUT UPSTREAM, ON DUSTIN'S CLAIMS,
THE RAGING WHITE WATER HAS KEPT OUT
EVEN THE TOUGHEST MINERS --
TILL THE DAKOTA BOYS BEGAN DIVING HERE.
I BELIEVE THAT ONE IS YOURS.
YEP.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP.
WHOO!
400 FEET OFF THE DECK.
WHOO! LOOK AT THAT VIEW.
NOW, THE HARD PART STARTS. [ LAUGHS ]
THE GRUELING JOURNEY TO THEIR MINE SITE
IS A WALK IN THE PARK
FOR THE 39-YEAR-OLD EXTREME SPORTS FANATIC.
Dustin: IT'S SO HARD TO MINE HERE.
BUT IF YOU'RE SCARED OF DYING, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA LIVE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD.
Narrator: BUT FOR 72-YEAR-OLD FRED,
IT'S A LITTLE HARDER.
HANG ON, MAN. I GOT TO GET MYSELF DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
SOME PEOPLE CALL ME "BIG BOOT," 'CAUSE I GOT ONE LEG
THAT'S, UH, BENT, TWISTED, CROOKED.
I WORKED IN REFINERIES, CONSTRUCTION WORK.
NOTHING SLOWS ME DOWN.
HEY, I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 40 YEARS.
BUT IT TOOK ME THREE WOMEN TO DO IT.
REALLY SKETCHY SPOT.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE THE LADDER A LITTLE BIT,
BUT IT'S ALL BANGED UP.
Fred: GET OFF THAT ROPE. GET OUT OF THE WAY.
FRED LIKES TO THINK HE'S IN CHARGE.
HE'S GOT HIS WAY OF TALKING DOWN TO ME.
AND I DON'T THINK HE MEANS IT.
BUT WHEN HE DOES IT,
IT'S ENOUGH TO SET YOU OFF.
OH, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
Fred: JUST WOBBLED A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S ALL.
BUT HE'S MY DAD. I LOVE HIM.
SO, I GOT TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
LET'S GO.
DON'T UNCLIP UNTIL YOU'RE GOOD AND SAFE UP THERE, FRED.
♪♪
Dustin: NICE.
GOOD JOB, FRED.
-ALL RIGHT. -IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK OVER HERE.
-I'M TELLING YOU. -THIS IS WHERE WE BELONG.
Narrator: THIS TUNNEL WAS BLASTED OUT BY OLD-TIMERS
100 YEARS AGO.
THEY BUILT A FLUME TO DIVERT THE RAGING TORRENT,
THEN MINED THE DRIED-OUT PLUNGE POOL
AND REAPED OVER 4,000 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH OVER $5 MILLION TODAY.
OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, FRED AND DUSTIN
HAVE BUILT THEIR OWN MINE SITE TO FIND GOLD
IN THE PLUNGE POOLS JUST ABOVE THE FALLS.
Dustin: WE JUST GOT TO TURN THE KEYS AND JUST START DREDGING.
-HOLD UP. -HOLY [BLEEP]
UGH!
Fred: OH, MAN.
THE WATER MUST HAVE COME UP 8 FEET.
IT'S ALL GONE, MAN -- EVERYTHING.
THERE AIN'T A THING LEFT. NOTHING.
ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING THAT WAS OUT HERE,
JUST WASHED AWAY.
DREDGE, ALL OF OUR AIR LINES.
THAT WATER JUST PUNCHED THROUGH THERE.
IT JUST WENT STRAIGHT OUT OF THERE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
I THINK WE HANDED IT THE THING.
AND, UH, AND MOTHER NATURE JUST WENT ON A RAMPAGE.
WITHOUT THIS GEAR, WE GOT NO SEASON.
♪♪
Dustin: DREDGE, AIR COMPRESSORS,
GENERATORS THAT -- JUST SUPER EXPENSIVE.
WELL, I JUST ABOUT PUT JUST ABOUT ALL THE CASH
THAT I COULD EVEN THINK OF PUTTING INTO THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL WE GONNA DO.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
I MEAN, WE DON'T QUIT.
MAYBE WE CAN GET AN INVESTOR THAT WOULD, UH,
COME ON BOARD WITH US.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO ANY OF THAT STUFF.
I CAN DIG A HOLE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONVINCE SOMEBODY TO GIVE ME MONEY.
I'M GONNA SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
♪♪
Narrator: TO SALVAGE HIS MINING SEASON,
FRED RESORTS TO DESPERATE MEASURES.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY BIG.
SO, I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET
AND HAVE TO ASK FOR A LOAN
FROM THE LAST MAN I WANTED TO BORROW MONEY FROM.
GOT QUITE AN OPERATION GOING HERE.
WOW.
♪♪
I IMAGINE IT'S GONNA BE
A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE FOR HIM.
THERE HE IS, RIGHT THERE.
HEY, UH -- HEY, TODD. OVER HERE.
Todd: LOGAN, WHO IS THAT? IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS?
Narrator: UP AHEAD, THE DAKOTA BOYS REFUSE TO GIVE UP.
Dustin: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.
[BLEEP] FRED!
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
Fred: YEAH!
[ GROANING ]
♪♪
Narrator: TO RAISE THE MONEY HE NEEDS TO SAVE HIS MINING SEASON,
FRED HURT HAS COME TO OLD RIVAL
TOFF HOFFMAN.
Fred: TODD HOFFMAN.
Todd: FRED HURT.
I THINK I GOT A LITTLE PROPOSAL
YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY BE INTERESTED IN.
COME ON OVER HERE AND TAKE A LOOK.
YOU KNOW PORCUPINE CREEK.
-BOY, DO I. -OH, YEAH, DO YOU.
PORCUPINE CREEK AREA HERE,
BEEN ONE OF THE RICHEST AREAS IN SOUTHEAST, UH, ALASKA, EVER.
ALL THEM MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
THAT OLD MAN SCHNABEL MINED OUT OF THERE,
IT CAME FROM UP IN THIS AREA.
IN 1936, THERE WAS A GLACIER
ALL UP IN THIS AREA, RIGHT HERE.
NOW, IT HAS RECEDED ALL THE WAY BACK UP HERE.
-YEAH. -SO, THIS IS ALL FRESH COUNTRY.
WE GOT THESE PLUNGE POOLS ALL ALONG McKINLEY CREEK HERE.
WE MAY GET MILLIONS.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS FIND THE RIGHT SPOT.
FRED, LET ME STOP YOU RIGHT HERE.
I'VE HEARD THOSE STORIES.
I LOST $250,000 RIGHT THERE.
I NEED TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE.
I NEED AN INVESTOR.
NO KIDDING.
♪♪
I NEED ABOUT 100 GRAND.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
BUT I KNOW I CAN OPERATE AN ENTIRE YEAR,
WITH A POTENTIAL OF A HUGE PAYBACK --
HUGE.
UM...
I DON'T THINK YOUR CHANCES ARE THAT GOOD.
I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S TWO GUYS THAT HAD A DREAM ABOUT PORCUPINE.
I'VE GIVEN MINE UP. YOU HAVEN'T.
AND MAYBE, I GAVE MINE UP TOO EARLY.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU WHAT --
100 GRAND'S A LOT OF MONEY.
-ALL RIGHT. -THE MOST I CAN DO IS $50,000.
BUT I WANT 25% OF THE GOLD THAT YOU DIG OUT.
[ WHISTLES ]
TODD, I COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO THAT.
DUSTIN WOULD GO BERSERK.
I WAS THINKING MORE LIKE 10%.
OKAY, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'LL DO --
AND THIS IS MY LAST OFFER.
YOU GO 15%, AND --
AND I'LL WIRE YOU $50,000.
YOU WANT TO TAKE IT, OR YOU WANT TO LEAVE IT?
DUSTIN AIN'T GONNA LIKE THAT, BUT I'M GONNA AGREE TO IT.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD LUCK, BIG BOOT.
YES, SIR.
I WILL BE CHECKING IN.
THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE DUMBEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE --
AND TRUST ME, I'VE DONE A LOT OF DUMB THINGS.
THE 15% WAS HARD TO SWALLOW.
BUT, UH, HEY, WE GOT THE MONEY.
MEANS WE'RE GONNA BE MINING THIS YEAR.
♪♪
Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE JUST ENOUGH MONEY
TO REPLACE THEIR LOST MINING EQUIPMENT.
BUT IT COMES AT A PRICE.
Dustin: COME ON, FRED. ARE YOU JOKING?
I'M WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY, "I'M JOKING."
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HARD TIME PARTING ME
WITH THAT 15%.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S 15% OF ZERO.
THINK OF IT THAT WAY.
IF IT'S THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO,
AND THAT'S IT, THEN, OKAY.
BUT THAT DON'T MEAN I LIKE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
WHILE FRED WAS GETTING THE LOAN,
TWO TRUSTED CREW MEMBERS TURNED UP...
WHY, HELLO THERE. HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD TO BE BACK UP HERE.
...FABRICATOR WES RICHARDSON AND HIS BROTHER, PAUL,
DUSTIN'S DIVE BUDDY.
THEY'RE ON A 15% GOLD SHARE.
I KNOW IT'S GIVING UP WHAT'S RIGHTFULLY YOURS.
I MEAN, WE'RE UP HERE. SO I -- WE MIGHT AS WELL STAY.
IT'D BE WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR US
TO HEAD BACK HOME. -I AGREE.
MIGHT AS WELL STAY HERE AND GO FOR IT.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE NOW?
WE'RE HERE. MY MAIN ROLE IN THIS CREW
IS, UH, I BUILD EVERYTHING.
I'VE DONE SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG.
I CAN DO ANYTHING WITH NOTHING.
THIS IS MY OFFICE, RIGHT HERE.
I LIKE TO LOOK OUT AND SEE MOUNTAINS AND TREES, WATERFALLS.
I CAN'T DO THE CITY THING. I'VE GOT TO BE OUT HERE IN THIS.
THIS IS ME.
THERE'S ONE OTHER THING.
JEN IS COMING.
AND ZACK IS COMING.
Narrator: ZACK SHEETS IS THE SON OF FRED'S GIRLFRIEND, JEN.
-HOW YOU DOING? -HEY, ZACK. I'M DUSTIN.
-NICE TO MEET YOU, DUSTIN. -PAUL.
-HOW YOU DOING, ZACK?
I'M WES. GLAD TO MEET YOU. -GLAD TO BE HERE.
Fred: WE NEED A GOOD, STRONG, YOUNG MAN.
AND, UH, I THINK YOU'LL FIT THE BILL.
Jen: I THINK SO, TOO.
OH, YOU'RE GONNA COME WORK WITH US.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE UP HERE FOR A VISIT.
AND I'M HERE 'CAUSE FRED SAID YOU GUYS NEEDED SOME HELP.
-HOW OLD ARE YOU, MAN? -24.
HAVE YOU DONE ANY MINING BEFORE?
NO.
YOU EVER BEEN UNDERWATER?
NO. IT'S ALL GONNA BE NEW FOR ME.
DAMN.
THIS IS A SUPER DANGEROUS JOB.
AND YOU'RE SURE YOU WANT TO GET YOURSELF INTO THIS?
'CAUSE YOU COULD DIE OUT HERE.
YEAH. I'VE BEEN LOGGING FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS NOW.
SO, I KNOW THAT I'M NEW TO MINING,
BUT I'M NOT NEW TO HARD WORK.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT
'CAUSE YOUR MOM'S DATING FRED.
I DON'T WANT ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT, DUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO WORK.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL SEE WHAT YOU GOT,
AND, UH, WELCOME TO THE CREW, MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
I GENERALLY TRY TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY
ON THE CREW THAT I'M WORKING WITH.
BUT DUSTIN, HE DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE KIND OF A HARDASS,
AND EVEN, MAYBE, BORDERLINE ASS[BLEEP]
BUT, UH, THAT'S OKAY, 'CAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH PEOPLE
LIKE THAT MY WHOLE LIFE. -WE CAN USE THE HELP.
BUT NOW, I'VE GOT A VERY, VERY YOUNG GUY.
AND I DON'T WANT THIS KID GETTING KILLED.
♪♪
Narrator: THIS SEASON, DUSTIN WANTS TO FIND
A NEW MINE SITE CLOSER TO THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD.
IT'S A TREASURE HUNT.
THEY'LL SEARCH FOR A SHARP BEND OR PLUNGE POOL
WHERE THE WATER SLOWS DOWN
AND DEPOSITS A MONSTER PILE OF GOLD
THAT COULD MAKE THEM ALL RICH.
UH, WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THE WATERFALL. START FRESH.
WE GOT TO GO FIND A SPOT CLOSE TO THE SOURCE.
THE GOLD COULD BE HUGE.
BUT IT'S KIND OF A LONG HIKE.
EVERYBODY BE SAFE. THAT'S THE ONLY RULE.
BE SAFE. DON'T DIE.
-LET'S DO IT. -ALL RIGHT.
Zack: OH, MY GOD.
SO, THIS IS IT, HUH?
Fred: THIS IS IT, MAN.
A LITTLE GULLIED ACROSS THERE.
THIS IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE MY TIME
TO, KIND OF, BUILD THE TRUST
IN THE EQUIPMENT AND THE REST OF THE CREW, AS WELL. SO...
SO, WHAT DO I DO FROM HERE? -WALK OFF.
AND TRY NOT TO JUMP TOO HARD, 'CAUSE IT BOUNCES REAL HEAVY.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
OH, NO, NO, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! WHOA.
[BLEEP]
HOLY [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ] JUST MESSING WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?
♪♪
-OH [BLEEP] -WOW.
Dustin: HOW YOU DOING BACK THERE, FRED?
I'M HANGING IN THERE.
WOW, MAN.
THERE'S SOME REALLY BIG WATERFALLS RIGHT THERE.
THIS LOOKS GOOD, MAN. WE HAVE TO GET DOWN.
Wes: YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO.
JUST FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET TO IT.
PBHT!
IT LOOKS AWFUL STEEP.
I'M GUESSING THIS IS ABOUT 300 FEET DOWN.
I'M GONNA GO DOWN RIGHT QUICK, AND I'LL RADIO UP TO YOU.
DON'T KNOW HOW YOU RAPPEL, SO I DON'T WANT YOU COMING DOWN.
ALSO, YOU DON'T RAPPEL. SO, YOU'RE NOT COMING DOWN, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS IS GOLD MINING, UH, TO THE EXTREME.
THIS IS DANGEROUS STUFF HERE.
WE'RE JUST KIND OF IN THAT LITTLE ZONE
BETWEEN CRAZY AND INSANE.
ROCK!
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
DUSTIN!
Dustin: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.
Narrator: AT McKINLEY CREEK IN ALASKA...
Dustin: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.
...DUSTIN HURT'S SEARCH
FOR THE PERFECT PLUNGE POOL GOLD TRAP
HAS LED HIM OVER THE EDGE
OF A CRUMBLING 250-FOOT CLIFF.
Dustin: I THINK I'M LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN
ON THE SPOT RIGHT NOW.
BUT THERE'S REALLY NO GOOD WAY TO GET THERE.
THERE'S LOOSE ROCK EVERYWHERE, MAN.
THIS IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS.
SO, LOOKS LIKE, GOT TO GO BACK UP,
TRY TO FIND ANOTHER WAY DOWN.
WE'VE CHOSEN A VERY HARD SPOT TO GET TO, OBVIOUSLY.
THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING REALLY HARD TO DO.
LOOKING BETTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE.
IT'S GOT A BETTER TRAIL.
PAUL AND WES, COME ON DOWN. AND, UH, WE COULD ALL
CHECK IT OUT TOGETHER. -COPY THAT.
YOU'RE COMING DOWN IN A SLIDE AREA,
SO TRY NOT TO KICK TOO MANY ROCKS.
Zack: IT KIND OF SUCKS BEING STUCK UP HERE
WHILE THE REST OF THE CREW'S DOWN THERE EXPLORING
AND GETTING TO SEE ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.
BUT I'M LEFT UP HERE TO WATCH FRED.
I'M BABYSITTING HIM.
NO. WE ALL KNOW WHO'S BABYSITTING WHO HERE.
KEEP GOING.
I GOTCHA.
♪♪
I THINK THAT FLAT WE'RE LOOKING TO BE ON IS RIGHT THERE.
Dustin: SO CLOSE, MAN.
WE CAN SEE IT.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
THERE IT IS, RIGHT THERE, GUYS.
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
IT'S A PLUNGE POOL.
-YEAH! -HOLY [BLEEP]
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. THERE'S ALL THEM ROUND BOULDERS.
I HOPE THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD DOWN THERE -- A LOT.
HEY, FRED, YOU GOT A COPY?
IT'S ON THE INSIDE OF A BEND.
IT'S GOT A PLUNGE POOL AND BIG, ROUND ROCKS THAT ARE ON A BAR.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? -YAHOO!
I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO SOME GOOD THERE, BOY.
IT'S THE TRIFECTA.
THE TRIFECTA OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator: THE BOULDERS, THE BEND, AND THE PLUNGE POOL
ALL SLOW THE WATER DOWN
AND SHOULD CREATE THE PERFECT GOLD CATCH.
WE FOUND OUR SPOT. WE FOUND IT.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR,
AND IT'S BETTER THAN WE EVER IMAGINED.
NOW THAT WE KNOW IT'S HERE,
THERE'S NOTHING THAT COULD STOP US -- NOTHING.
THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR FIRST OBJECTIVE --
THE PERFECT DIVE SITE.
NEXT, THEY NEED TO BRING IN THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT.
Dustin: IF WE CAN'T FIND A GOOD WAY INTO THE SPOT,
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MINE IT.
GETTING HEAVY GEAR IN BY ROPE IS NOT AN OPTION.
IT'S SUPER DANGEROUS. SO, THIS IS HOW WE'RE DOING IT.
PAUL AND I, WE'RE GONNA START
BUILDING A WALKWAY SUSPENDED ON A CLIFFSIDE.
WE'VE GOT A LONG DAY AHEAD OF US. OKAY?
-YEP. -ALL RIGHT.
-OKAY. -LET'S GO.
ACCESS TO THE TRIFECTA
IS CUT OFF BY A 30-FOOT WALL OF ROCK.
TO GET THERE,
DUSTIN HAS TO BOLT STEEL BRACKETS INTO THE WALL
AND ATTACH WOODEN BOARDS TO MAKE A WALKWAY.
I'M GONNA GET YOU TO HOLD ME OFF ON A ROPE
TO MAKE SURE, IF I GO IN THE WATER,
YOU CAN STILL GRAB ME UP AND GET ME OVER TO THE SIDE.
IF YOU SLIP INTO THIS WATER, IT GETS REAL BAD.
AND YOU'RE GONNA DIE.
-COPY? -YEP.
ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE.
WHOO-HOO! THIS IS GONNA BE EASY.
♪♪
DONE! LET'S GET A BOARD ON THIS THING,
GET TO THE NEXT ONE.
I THINK I'M ABOUT HALFWAY RIGHT NOW.
AND I CAN ALMOST TASTE IT.
[BLEEP]
DON'T STEP ON THAT.
[BLEEP]
THERE'S SOME SOFT-ASS ROCK OVER HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE [BLEEP] TO DO.
[BLEEP] GOT ME ON EDGE. LOOK AT THIS.
YEAH.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: THE WALL IS MADE OF SHALE,
ONE OF ALASKA'S SOFTEST ROCKS.
I'M STARTING TO WONDER ABOUT THIS [BLEEP]
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE [BLEEP] TO GO.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT -- THIS IS A VERY INEFFICIENT WAY
OF GETTING THINGS UP THERE.
WE GOT A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY BACK.
AND WE AIN'T EVEN STARTED OUR DIVING YET.
WE WON'T GET ANYTHING DONE.
Dustin: AH [BLEEP]
THIS IS A [BLEEP] MESS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CALL IT QUITS.
IT SUCKS. I GOT TO FINISH THIS WALKWAY TOMORROW.
♪♪
Narrator: THAT EVENING, DOWN AT THE ROAD ACCESS POINT,
FRED HAS A PLAN TO SPEED THINGS UP.
LOOK, WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE ALL THIS NEW STUFF.
THERE'S NEW DREDGE, NEW HOT WATER HEATER THINGS.
THERE IS NO WAY WE'RE GONNA GET ALL THIS STUFF
UP THAT WALKWAY OVER THERE.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
I'VE GOT A PLAN.
I'VE CALLED UP, UH, OUR HELICOPTER PEOPLE.
AND THEY AGREED TO LET US PIGGYBACK
ON A JOB GOING ON IN THIS AREA OVER HERE,
SAVING $7,000 RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
ALL RIGHT. SO, WHAT DAY IS THAT?
THAT IS TOMORROW.
PROBABLY 10:00.
-PROBABLY. -IT'S TOO CLOSE.
WE'RE NOT PREPARED FOR IT.
WE HAVE TO SET UP AN AREA TO LAND ALL THIS STUFF.
PLANS CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
ALL RIGHT [BLEEP] IT. SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT A PLAN.
LET'S GET TO THAT, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
-OKAY. -OKAY.
Narrator: COMING UP IN THIS SERIES...
Dustin: OH [BLEEP]
-BRIDGE IS GONNA GO! -GET OUT! GET OUT!
OHH!
-PULL. PULL. -[ GROANING ]
Dustin: I'LL BE DAMNED. WE FOUND NUGGETS.
YEAH! WHOO-HOO-HOO!
WE FOUND GOLD!
Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
FRED HAS TWO HOURS TO BOX UP HIS MINING EQUIPMENT
TO HELI-LIFT IT UP TO THE MINE SITE.
THESE HELICOPTER LIFTS ARE NOTHING I TAKE LIGHTLY
BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST SO DAMNED EXPENSIVE.
I MEAN, THIS LIFT IS RUNNING $2,500 AN HOUR.
LOOK. EVERY SECOND'S GONNA COUNT HERE.
Narrator: TWO MILES UP AT McKINLEY CREEK...
...DUSTIN HAS A MUCH TOUGHER JOB --
GET TO THE ONE PIECE OF FLAT LAND
BY THE TRIFECTA POOL
AND CLEAR THE TREES TO CREATE THE DROP ZONE.
I NEED TO PUT SOME GOOD ANCHOR BOLTS.
AND THIS STUFF GETS SOFT AND GONNA BREAK OFF.
I DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.
Narrator: DUSTIN WEIGHS OVER 200 POUNDS.
TO PROGRESS, HE MUST TRUST HIS LIFE
TO A SINGLE UNTESTED ANCHOR POINT.
IT BREAKS, I'M GOING SWIMMING.
WHOO-HOO!
THAT'S WHAT GOOD, SOLID ROCK FEELS LIKE, RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: FINALLY ON THE FLAT GROUND...
Dustin: YEAH! ...THEY HAVE LESS
THAN 20 MINUTES TO CREATE A LANDING ZONE.
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
THERE'S -- HE'S COMING.
PAY ATTENTION.
YOU'LL SEE THIS GOES QUICK, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK,
LIKE BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM.
GOOD?
GET BACK!
HE'S COOKING, MAN.
PORCUPINE TO DUSTIN.
WHAT'S UP, FRED?
HOPE YOU GOT THAT THING READY.
WE GOT THE HELICOPTER IN THE AIR.
COPY THAT. KEEP CUTTING. I'LL CLEAN UP.
THERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. [BLEEP]
WE AIN'T GOT THE SPOT YET.
GOOD ENOUGH. IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
PERFECT.
ONE DOWN.
-THAT WAS CLOSE. -YEP.
Narrator: IN JUST OVER AN HOUR,
DUSTIN LANDS 5 TONS OF EQUIPMENT,
FUEL, AND LUMBER,
KEEPING THE HELICOPTER COST TO $3,000.
WE'RE ESTABLISHING A HOME BASE.
THIS IS GOOD, MAN.
-YEP. -HEY, GOOD JOB, FELLAS.
GOOD JOB SENDING ALL THAT STUFF UP, FRED.
YOU DIDN'T LOSE ANYTHING AT ALL.
I'M PROUD OF YOU, MAN.
HEY, "A"-PLUS, MAN.
WE ALWAYS DO IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ RADIO BEEPS ]
Narrator: 10 DAYS AFTER ARRIVING IN ALASKA,
THE DAKOTA BOYS CAN HIKE IN
AND SET UP FOR THEIR FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON.
Fred: I'M HOPING IT'S GONNA GO WELL.
AND WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT IF, UH, WE GET DOWN THERE
AND GET GOOD RESULTS.
Dustin: GONNA BE A GREAT DAY TODAY.
WE GOT TO GO FIND SOME SORT OF GOLD
TO MAKE THIS ALL WORTH IT.
IT'S A BIG DEAL.
COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.
I'LL TAKE SOME SAMPLES.
HOPEFULLY, IT'LL GIVE US AN INDICATION
OF WHAT'S TO COME IN THIS AREA.
♪♪
Narrator: FRED HAS 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE
DIVING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
ALL RIGHT. SO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING, RIGHT?
-NO. -SO, AN AIR LINE GOES IN THAT.
Narrator: DUSTIN IS A SELF-TAUGHT EXPERT
AT DIVING IN WHITE WATER.
SO WE'RE GONNA SET UP AN AIR LINE.
ALL RIGHT.
I NEED TO GO AND GET MY [BLEEP] DONE FIRST.
PUT A WET SUIT ON.
WE'LL BE MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
I GUARANTEE.
WE CAN DO ALL THAT STUFF ONCE I GET SUITED UP.
EVERY SECOND, AROUND 2,000 GALLONS
OF FREEZING WATER SURGE THROUGH THIS PLUNGE POOL.
TO KEEP HIM ALIVE,
DUSTIN NEEDS SPECIALLY ADAPTED DIVE EQUIPMENT.
Dustin: WHAT I NEED NOW IS MY BODY HARNESS, THEN LEADS.
-AND THIS IS LIKE A FITTING. -YEP.
Narrator: HE'LL BE CONNECTED TO THE DIVE STATION
BY AN UMBILICAL LIFELINE
MADE UP OF THREE CRUCIAL COMPONENTS.
TO STOP HIM BEING SWEPT AWAY,
HE'S ATTACHED TO A PARACORD SAFETY ROPE
WITH A BREAKING STRAIN OF 2,000 POUNDS.
A HOSE PUMPS HOT WATER
AROUND THE SUIT TO PREVENT HYPOTHERMIA.
THE SECOND HOSE DELIVERS VITAL AIR.
A FAULT WITH ANY OF THESE WOULD BE LIFE-THREATENING.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS.
GIVE IT A LITTLE EXTRA SLACK.
RIGHT.
Dustin: IF YOU GET IN THE DAMN WATER, AND YOU GET TANGLED UP
IN YOUR CABLES AND ROPES AND ALL THIS OTHER JUNK,
WE'RE GONNA DIE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD.
VERY GOOD. EXCELLENT.
MIGHT WANT TO GET A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER, MAN.
A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER ON TOP. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.
JUST 'CAUSE WE GOT A CAMERA ON US
DON'T MEAN WE GOT TO HURRY THE [BLEEP] UP.
YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY, I'VE GOT HIS LIFE IN MY HANDS.
OH, I DEFINITELY GET NERVOUS.
ANYTHING GOES WRONG, WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
THAT WOULD BE THE END OF HIM.
Dustin: ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT'S THE -- WHAT'S THE DEAL?
HOOK UP YOUR, UH, LINE RIGHT HERE.
THE AIR HOSE IS A LITTLE CRAZY, I THINK.
THERE AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
LOOK AT THIS. DO YOU SEE HOW STUPID THIS IS?
IT'S AN AIR HOSE, AND IT'S IN RAPIDS.
THIS ISN'T REGULAR WATER.
IT'S GONNA WRAP AROUND YOUR ARM. IT'S GONNA --
IT JUST -- IT JUST SUCKS.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
I SAID, "I'M GOING TO PUT ON MY SUIT.
-DON'T DO --" -I TOLD YOU TO STAND BY...
"DON'T DO THIS." ...UNTIL WE GOT THIS THING DONE.
"I'LL COME BACK." I COME BACK, IT -- IT'S DONE.
WHO DID IT?
YOU DID IT? WAS IT YOU?
DID YOU GUYS TAPE THIS THING TOGETHER?
NO? SO IT WAS OBVIOUSLY YOU. AND NOW IT'S WRONG.
LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NO MORE OF THAT [BLEEP] DUSTIN.
[BLEEP] WE COULD DO THIS WITHOUT YOU IF YOU WANT.
SOMEBODY CUT ALL THE [BLEEP] LOOSE, PLEASE.
Y'ALL DON'T NEED ME.
Y'ALL ALL [BLEEP] EXPERIENCED.
YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF.
I IMAGINE ANYBODY WOULD BE VERY UPSET
WITH HAVING SOMEONE TALK TO YOU LIKE THAT,
PARTICULARLY A-A FATHER AND SON.
THIS IS MY PLACE.
HIS JOB IS TO HELP ME, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
GOT A LITTLE SAMPLE FOR YOU GUYS.
Paul: BRING IT UP. BRING IT UP. BRING IT UP.
SOME LITTLE FLASHES. HEY! COME HERE.
CHECK IT OUT, FELLAS!
Narrator: AT McKINLEY CREEK,
DUSTIN'S FIRST DIVE FOR GOLD IS ON HOLD.
YOU KEEP, LIKE, TREATING ME LIKE A KID
LIKE I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
I HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN IT THAN YOU DO.
IN THIS? YOU DON'T.
IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, IT'LL BE GREAT.
YOU'RE MY FATHER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MY BOSS.
WHY DON'T YOU COME BE PART OF THIS?
PUT THE DAMN MASK ON AND GET IN THE WATER
AND DO YOUR DAMN JOB.
Narrator: IN ALASKA,
DUSTIN HURT IS READY TO RISK HIS LIFE
DIVING IN ICE COLD WHITEWATER.
A SAMPLE FROM THE CREEK BED COULD INDICATE
A GOLD DEPOSIT WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
FRED AND I FIGHT. WE'LL MAKE UP LATER.
BUT RIGHT NOW,
WE NEED TO GET THIS HOLE AND GET A SAMPLE OUT.
LET'S [BLEEP] DO THIS ANYWAY. COME ON.
LET'S HOOK ME UP.
Narrator: DUSTIN MUST DIVE THROUGH A CURRENT
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO MOVE HALF-TON BOULDERS.
Dustin: ALL RIGHT.
Paul: GOOD LUCK!
[ DUSTIN GROANS ]
OH [BLEEP]
WHOA!
AAH!
[ GROANING ]
THAT'S CRAZY.
PULL. PULL. PULL. PULL. PULL.
TAKE HIM THAT WAY. TAKE HIM THAT WAY.
[ DUSTIN GROANING ]
MAN.
THAT WATER IS SERIOUSLY RAGING NOW.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
IF WE START DOWN THERE AND WORK OUR WAY IN,
IT WON'T BE THIS VIOLENT. -YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
Narrator: THE NEW PLAN --
START IN A CALM AREA FURTHER DOWNSTREAM.
THEN WORK BACK UP TO THE PLUNGE POOL.
[ DUSTIN GROANS ]
COME ON.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN?
[ GROANS ]
WATCH OUT.
AAH. [BLEEP]
WHOA. THAT'S JUST GONNA PULL ME IN.
-DUSTIN. -DO YOU GOT A COPY?
-UH-OH. -OH [BLEEP]
OH, GOOD GOD.
DUSTIN?
PULL. PULL.
-WHOO! -[ LAUGHS ]
THAT WAS FUN!
YEE-HAW!
[ LAUGHS ]
GOT MATERIAL?
GOT A LITTLE SAMPLE FOR YOU GUYS.
ALL RIGHT. OH [BLEEP]
HEAVY.
WELL, LET'S SEE IF IT PANS OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
I COULDN'T STAY ON THE BOTTOM FOR VERY LONG,
BUT THE STUFF I COULD GRAB, IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE STUFF I'M LOOKING FOR DOWN THERE.
-HEY, CHECK IT OUT. -SO HOW'D IT GO?
WE WENT AND FOUND A LITTLE BIT OF SURFACE DIRT.
DO YOU MIND, UH, PANNING UP SOME OF THAT?
-YEAH, WE CAN TRY. -YEP.
THANK YOU, FRED.
Narrator: ANY GOLD WILL LIKELY BE BURIED TOO DEEP IN THE CREEK BED
FOR DUSTIN'S SMALL TEST SAMPLE.
IT'S PRETTY HEAVY STUFF.
YOU CAN'T GET GOLD RIGHT OFF THE SURFACE.
Narrator: INSTEAD, FRED HOPES TO FIND OTHER HEAVY MINERALS,
TELLTALE SIGNS OF A GOLD POCKET.
♪♪
HOW'S IT LOOKING, FRED?
WELL, SO FAR,
I DON'T SEE TOO MUCH PROMISING STUFF THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS DIGGING IN THE RIGHT SPOTS.
I WAS TRYING MY HARDEST TO STAY DOWN.
TELL YOU WHAT.
SEE SOME LITTLE FLASHES.
BUT I THINK IT'S PYRITE.
-A LOT OF PYRITE IN THAT THING. -A-HA.
Narrator: IRON PYRITE, ALSO KNOWN AS FOOL'S GOLD,
IS DENSE AND VERY OFTEN COLLECTS
IN THE SAME PLACE AS REAL GOLD.
PYRITE IS WORTHLESS.
BUT IT'S A GOOD INDICATOR OF GOLD.
LITTLE BITTY STUFF, BUT IT'S THERE.
IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
HEY! COME HERE.
CHECK IT OUT, FELLAS!
-ALL THAT STUFF. -OH, YEAH.
WHAT THE HELL IS UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT?
LET'S SEE WHAT'S DOWN THERE.
-WHOO! -GOOD JOB, DUSTIN.
GOOD JOB, GUYS. -YEAH.
BEEN WORKING WITH THESE GUYS FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
AND I THINK FINALLY THIS YEAR,
WE'RE THERE WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
Fred: WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PYRITE.
MAN, IT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
THAT WAS OUR SAVIOR POINT RIGHT THERE.
I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT SEASON.
I KNOW WHERE THE GOLD IS. AND IT'S RIGHT THERE
SAYING, "HEY, I'M DOWN HERE!
HELP! I NEED TO BE IN YOUR POCKET!"
[ LAUGHING ]
Narrator: COMING UP THIS SEASON...
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY GOLD FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
HEY. WHAT DID I PUT IN 50 GRAND FOR, THIS TENT?
-YOU MUST BE CARLOS. -YES, SIR.
TODD HOFFMAN SENT HIM UP HERE TO KEEP AN EYE ON US.
THESE GUYS CAN THROW ME IN THE CREEK.
PULL IT OUT OF THE WATER!
YEAH!
-OH [BLEEP] -FRED!
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
Dustin: I'LL BE DAMNED. WE FOUND NUGGETS.
-YEAH! -WHOO-HOO-HOO!
WE FOUND GOLD!
WHEN I'M DONE WITH THIS, I WANT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE.
OH [BLEEP]
BRIDGE IS GONNA GO!
GET OUT! GET OUT!
THIS IS HOW IT IS MINING IN ALASKA, MAN.
ONE MINUTE, YOU THINK YOU GOT IT.
NEXT MINUTE, EVERYTHING'S GONE.